After Losing to UCLA, Robinson Should Lose Reading Glasses Now

Lull the Bruins to sleep by spotting them three touchdowns. Keep the UCLA coaching staff off-balance by continuing to be predictable on offense and defense. Confuse UCLA with a nine-minute, clock-eating drive in the fourth quarter.

The strategy worked. We lost by only four points.

LEN WOOD

Rancho Palos Verdes

*

In the spirit of the holiday, I’d like to give thanks for the main reason why Southern Cal can take a top-five ranking, the best talent money can buy, the most NCAA violations and one of the country’s easiest schedules and parlay all that into getting blown out by Notre Dame, beaten by the Bruins, and now, perched on the brink of top-25 oblivion: John Robinson.

Eat well and rest up, Mr. Robinson. I can hardly wait to see your 1996 version of the underachieving Rams, er, Trojans.

TIM McOSKER

Long Beach

*

With the regular season of Trojan football at a close, it’s time that we congratulate John Robinson for something that nobody else has been able to do: Convince the mindless, sheeplike, gullible, USC faithful to continue to believe in him when he has accomplished absolutely nothing on the football field.

Be thankful that chariot of yours has reverse, Jolly John, or you never would have gotten into the Rose Bowl.

MARTIN S. MANGIONE

Los Angeles

*

Why is John Robinson worried that unscrupulous sports agents may undermine USC’s recruiting? He is doing fine all by himself.

LINDA RAMOS

Valley Village

*

Picked No. 1 by Sports Illustrated ,

A team we now know was overrated.

Losing to the Irish and Bruins

Has left our season in ruins.

And followers of Troy are beyond frustrated.

MICHAEL G. DAWSON

Claremont

*

Obviously, Georgia Frontiere knew what she was doing when she dismissed John Robinson. Robinson is living on past glories, when there were no Proposition 48 restrictions and he had superb athletes who made him look good.

In the fourth quarter of the UCLA game, USC decided to abandon the passing game and two-minute drill. Instead, the Trojans opted for a ground game that produced a touchdown but used too much time. Why would you go away from your offensive strength at such a crucial time in such a crucial game?

LAWRENCE TOWNSEND

View Park

*

I know John McKay and John Robinson is no John McKay.

JAY S. LOWY

Tarzana

*

What was the reason again for the firing last year of defensive coordinator Don Lindsey, who constructed sound defenses for Bear Bryant, Frank Broyles, John McKay and someone named Robinson?

HOWARD COHEN

North Hills

*

Three certainties in life:

1. Death.

2. Taxes.

3. The inability of USC to stop UCLA’s running game when the Bruins line up in the shotgun formation.

BURTON L. COHEN

North Hills

*

Roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Christmas lights and decorations.

UCLA defeating USC.

Ah, how I love the traditions of the holiday season.

DANIEL M. MAYEDA

Culver City

*

After this travesty, USC should stand for: Undeniably Shameful Chokers.

JIM VERNOR

Studio City

*

After USC recently clinched a Rose Bowl berth, The Times’ Allan Malamud felt it was credible to write that John Robinson had now accomplished one of his four goals. Maybe that’s how mathematics was taught when Allan attended USC. Since returning to USC, Robinson has had three opportunities to beat UCLA, three opportunities to beat Notre Dame, three opportunities to go to the Rose Bowl and three opportunities to win the national championship. One out of 12 is a failing grade anywhere, with the possible exception of USC.

CAROL TANDY SHPIRO

Agoura Hills

*

This year’s USC team had better talent than both Notre Dame and UCLA and yet was content to play error-prone, uninspired, unprepared and prideless football. Where are the preparation, defensive coaching and motivation for big games that once identified Trojan football? Why must Trojan fans have to endure 20-year-old highlights on the vision board every home game?

AL and JUDY FERAZZI

Mission Viejo

*

As I watch the Trojans go through another year with losses to UCLA and Notre Dame, I know what it’s like to be an Angel fan.

PAUL LONG

Upland

*

UCLA beat USC again! Oh well, there’s always women’s basketball.

GENE ABRAMSON

Woodland Hills

*

I’m beginning to like “Conquest” and the Trojan band, because I don’t hear it quite as often, and I’m beginning to like that horse, Trodder XX, or something like that, because I don’t see it as much.

BOB ARRANAGA JR.

Pasadena

*

USC fans can take heart from one result of their stunning upset by UCLA: It guarantees that Terry Donahue will be back leading the Bruins next year, giving the Trojans and the rest of the Pac-10 one less serious competitor in the race for the Rose Bowl.

KENNETH ROSE

Palo Alto

*

To the Bruin unfaithful who try to run Terry out of town:

What kind of whine do you want with your crow?

TONY McDERMOTT

Hermosa Beach

*

I’m glad that Terry Donahue feels “validated” as a coach with his victory over USC, but among the Bruin alums I talk to, he’s about the only one who feels this way.

The consensus on Donahue is that he wins just enough games each year to keep his job. And he has lost more games he should have won than possibly any coach in history. For example, if he can beat the Trojans five years in a row, why did he lose to the toothless Golden Bears five years in a row? Why did his team beat SC this year but lose to Washington State and Arizona State, two teams the Trojans crunched?

Best-case scenario? Donahue to CBS and Northwestern Coach Gary Barnett to UCLA. Then the Bruins can start talking national championship.

DAVID PEARSE

Santa Monica